Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND 10F To I~V~NTIO~
The present invention portrayals to an end closure for a container and more
particularly, to an end cloture for a container containing grated cheese, bread
crumbs or like food product for maintaining the container in a sealed condition
after packaging and for opening a pour opening in the end closure upon first
actuation of a first end closure part with respect to a second end closure part to
permit the contents to be dispensed as needed. The end closure incorporates a
temper evident element to indicate to the user whether or not the sealed condition
has been breached.
Containers or food products, such as bread crumbs grated cheese, and
spices, usually include an end closure for closing the container. The end closure
may include an end cap of metal or plastic affixed to the container body which may
be made of paper. The bottom may be closed by a metal or plastic member
secured to the container body. Usually, the end Cup has one or more pour openings
therein. A cover is rotatable mounted on the end cap through an opening in the end
cap for selectively opening and closing a pour opening. The pour opening is often
defined by a tab formed flush in the end cap and connected to the end cap by wall
portions of reduced thickness. Often the end cap has perforations therein for
outlining the pour opening in addiffon to the opening for journalling the cover.
Therefore the container is not hermetically closed, and there is often degradation
or deterioration of the food product from the time it is packed until it is sold.
Shelf life is shortened or there may actually be spoilage. The end closures
described above are shown generally in US. patents 3,912,128 and 4,274,563.
To open the end cap, a tool or finger it inserted against the tab to break the
wall portions and the tab is pushed into the container. If a finger is used, a nail of
the user may be broken. In some eases, where the end cap has been made from
polystyrene, particles of plastic have broken off and mixed with the contents,
thereby contaminating the food with undesirable and perhaps harmful non-food
matter. The tab in the container may interfere with pouring of the contents from
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the container. Hence, it has been suggested to provide means
to prevent the tab removed from the end cap from falling into
the container. As shown in Ziemann et at US. patent 3,912,128,
such means may comprise fulcrum pins securing the tab to the end
cover after -the reduced thickness wall has been severed. In a
similar manner, Outreason US. patent 4,274,563 provides hinge
pins to secure the tab to the end cover so that it can remain
hinged and not drop into the contents of the container.
Our united States patent 4,567,995 corresponding to
Canadian application serial No. 495,~41 filed November 19, 1985,
improved upon such prior end closures by providing a novel end
closure wherein a raised portion or tab defining the pour opening
will be automatically cut and urged outwardly from the end
closure upon rotation or movement of a first end closure part
relative to a second end closure part. the present invention
provides a tell tale or tamper evident element which will be
ruptured upon initial movement of the first end closure part
with respect to second end closure part in a direction to cut the
raised portion.
An object of the present invention is to provide an end
closure with a tamper evident element wherein disadvantages and
deficiencies of prior constructions are obviated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved end closure having a cover and an end cap movable
with respect to one another for automatically severing a tab
from end cap to form a pour opening, said tab being urged out-
warmly and severed from the end cap without dropping into the
contents of the container, and a tamper evident element which
will be broken upon initial movement of the cover with respect
to the end cap in a direction to cut the tab.
I
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Other objects and advantages of the present invention
will be made more apparent hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
There is shown in the attached drawing a presently
preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein like
numerals refer to like elements in the various views and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a container incorporating an end closure of
this invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container of Fig. 1, illustrating one form of knife
means on the cover for severing the raised portion from the end cap of the end
closure;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the container taken within
the the circle 3 of Fig. 1, illustrating the connection of the bottom to the side wall
of the container;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the container taken within
the circle 4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the connection of the side of the end cap of the
end closure to the side wall of the container,
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed cross-sectional view of the container taken
within the circle 5 of Fig. 1, illustrating the central connection of the stationary
end cap with the rotatable cover;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rotatable cover of a modified end closure, with
the pour opening in the end cap being shown in phantom and illustrating a modified
knife means;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the rotatable cover of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a crossseetional view of the rotatable cover taken generally along
the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;
Fig. pa is an enlarged detail view of the knife edge on the rotatable cover;
Fig. 8b is an enlarged detail view of the rotatable cover talc en generally along
line 8b-8b of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified container, illustrating an end
cap that is formed integrally with the contains;
Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view showing the central connection of the end
cap and notable cover of jig. 8;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the end cap of the end closure illustrating a groove
and tooth which form part of the means for preventing retrograde motion of the
I
rotatable cover relative to the end cap once cutting of the raised portion has
begun;
Fig. 12 is a detail view of the means for preventing retrograde motion
between the end cap and notable cover taken generally along line 12-12 of Fig. if;
Fig. 13 is a plan view of a container showing a tell tale or tamper evident
element in place in the opening in the rotatable cover;
Fig. 14 is a plan view of a container illustrating removal of the tamper
evident member upon initial rotation of the rotatable cover with respect to the end
Clip;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a container similar to Fig. 14 illustrating
removal of the tamper evident element upon initial rotation of the rotatable cover
with respect to the end cap; and
Fig. 16 us a detail cross-sectional view of the container taken generally along
line 16-16 of Fig. 13.
DXTAE~E~D DICTION Ox? They'll Pliant INVEMTIC)N
_
There is shown in Figures l-5 a container 10 having a generally cylindrical
body 12 with a side wall closed at one end by bottom 14 and closed at the other end
by end closure 16. The end closure 16 includes an end cap 18 formed integrally
with the side walls 12 of the container as shown in Figure 1 or alternatively, the
end cap 18 may be formed separate from the container side walls 12 and then
separately affixed thereto. The end closure 16 also includes a cover 20 that is
marble with respect to the end cap 18 as will be explained in more detailed
hereinafter.
The end cap 18 is formed with a raised portion 22 that is secured to the end
cap by a thinned severable wall section 40. The wall section 40 extends entirely
about raised portion 22. The raised portion 22 of end cap 18 fits within an open
24 in the cover I Also provided in the cover 20 are separate smaller openings 23
and 25, as will be explained more fully hereafter. The container 10 with end
clocker in place may be filled with product such as bread crumbs, grated cheese
and the like and then the bottom 14 applied to seal the container. The container 10
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and the end closure 16 may be made from plastic. The bottom 14 may be plastic or
aluminum. Since there is no opening in the end cap, the container 10 is
hermetically sealed. The contents are protected from contamination and shelf life
is prolonged.
The user will r ovate the cover 20 relative to the end cap 18 in order to force
the knife means 26 which define the opening 24 in the cover to cut through and
sever the thinned wall section 40 of the raised portion 22 and thereby raise the
raised portion 22 and urge same outwardly from the cover 20. Preferably, the
rotatable cover is made from a harder plastic than the end cap 18 so as to more
readily sever the wall section 40. With the raised portion 22 severed and discarded,
there is defined within the end cap 18 a pour opening 28 through which the product
from within the container 10 may be dispensed With the opening 24 in the cover
20 aligned with the opening 28 in the end cap, a large pour opening is provided.
The cover 20 may be rotated to an intermediate position covering the opening 28,
in which case the container 10 is resealed. The cover 20 may be rotated relative to
the end cap 18 to position one or both of the openings 23, 25 over the pour opening
28 to pour a lesser quantity of material from the container 10 than when opening
28 is aligned with opening 24. The end cap 18 may be molded from a plastic, such
as polypropylene which can be cut without breaking or shattering as might a brittle
plastic such as polystyrene. Therefore, no particles of plastic will be introduced
into the contents as a result of cutting away of the raised portion 22 to open the
pour opening 28 in the end cap 18.
As shown in Figure 3, the side wall 12 of the container 10 may be formed
with an outwardly extending peripheral flange MU at the bottom thereof. The
bottom 14 includes U-shaped section 32 including a rolled end 34 which is adapted
to be engaged over the flange OWE The parts defining the U of section 32 are
spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of side wall 12 in the region of
flange 30. In assembly, the flallge 30 is force fit into the U-shaped section 32. The
-flange 30 will cooperate with the U-shaped flange 32 to prevent removal of the
bottom 14 from the container 10. If desired, an adhesive may be applied between
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bottom 14 and the side wall 12 of container 10 to bond the members more firmly to
one another.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 4, the end cap 18 is formed integrally
with the side walls 12, for example, by molding. Cooperating means are provided
on the cover and the end cap for rotatable interconnecting the parts. An outwardly
extending annular projection or flange 36 on the exterior of the side of end cap 18
cooperates with an annular flange 38 on the interior of the side of the cover 20 to
help secure the cover 20 relative to the end cap 18, while still permitting motion of
the cover 20 relative to the end cap 18. Flanges 38 and 38 provide cooperating
members for connecting the sides of the cover 20 and the end cap 18. The flanges
36 and 38 have cooperating tapered faces to urge the cover 20 into tight
engagement with end cap 18. The raised portion 22 of the end cap 18 is secured to
the end cap by a thinned wall 40. In use it will be understood that the thinned wall
40 will be cut by the knife means 26 on the cover 20 upon rotation of the cover 20
relative to the end cap 18. The thinned wall 40 is provided entirely about the
exterior of the raised portion 22 and when the raised portion or tab 22 is severed,
the pour opening 28 is formed in end cap 18.
With reference to Figure 5, there is better shown the cooperating members
for rotatable connecting the center of the cover 20 to the center of the end cap 18.
The end cap 18 is closed and has no opening therein prior to severing of the thinned
wall 40 and removal of raised portion 22 to define the pour opening. Annular
projection 42 on the cover 20 depends into container 12. The projection 42 has a
generally circular outwardly fusing flange 47 thereon. The flange 47 is spaced
inwardly from the cover 20. The end cap 18 includes a recess 44 having an annular
flange 46 that is generally compliment to the flange 47 on the cover 20. The
internal diameter of the flange 46 is less than the external diameter of the flange
47. Since the parts are preferably manufactured of a tough resilient plastic, such
as polypropylene, there will be a snap fit inter-engagement between the
complementary engaging faces of flange 46 on end cap 18 and flange 47 on cover
20. Further, the cover 20 may be fabricated from a homopolymer material and the
I
end cap 18 from eopolymer material. since the homopolymer is harder than the
copolymer, the knife means 26 on the cover 20 can more readily cut the Hall
section OWE
Upon assembly, the cover 20 will be positively retained relative to the end
cap 18, assisted by the inter-engagement of the complementary flanges 36 and 38
on the sides of the end cap 18 and the cover 20. Both the cover 20 and end cap 18
are circular and rotary motion of the cover 20 relative to the end cap 18 is
facilitated. The exterior of the side walls of the cover 20 may be ridged (or
knurled) as best shown at 21 in Figures 2 and 4 to permit non-slip engagement of
the user's hand with the cover 20.
In Figure 6, there is shown a plan view of a modified cover 120 having a
modified knife means 126. The raised portion 122 on the end cap is shown in
phantom. The Icnife means 126 is formed integrally with the cover 120, as was the
knife means 26 shown in logger 2, except that the knife edge 127 is extended along
one side of the opening 124 in the cover in the form of a concave curve. The
overall opening 124 looks somewhat like a partial moon. The wall portion 129
figures 6 and 8b) of opening 124 is flat and spaced close to the raised portion 122
to preclude Contras rotation of the cover 120 relative to the end cap 118 when
the raised portion 122 is in place. The knife means 126 (as with the knife means
26) tapers inwardly toward the bottom of the operung in the cover, to define the
relatively sharp cutting edge 127, as best shown in Figures 8 and pa. In use, the
knife means 126 (figure 6) functions in a similar, but improved fashion to the knife
means of Figure 1. Knife means 126 will engage with and sever the thinned wall
140 which holds the raised portion 22 to the end cap 18 in a gradual fashion when
rotated clockwise as shown in Figure 6. the knife edge 126 engages a corner of the
raised portion well section 40 and upon continued rotations, engages more of the
wall section. When the end of knife means 126 passes through well section 140, the
raised portion 122 will be completely severed from end cap 118. It has been found
that the configuration of the knife means 126 illustr~ed in Figure 6 lessens the
force necessary to sever the raised portion as compared with the knife means 26
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since where is a more gradual application of cutting or severing to the wall 140.
The cover 120 includes a ridged edge 121, which is the same as that shown at 21 in
Figure 2.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate cross sections of the two parts of the end closure
116. The cover 120 is shown in cross section in Figure 8 and the end cap 11~ is
shown in cross section in Figure 9. The parts illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 are
juxtaposed to show the position just prior to assembly of the Cover 120 to the end
cap 118. The cover 120 will be pushed downwardly on to the end cap 118, until the
projection 142 engages within the recess 144, with the flange 146 on the end cap
118 engaging the complementary flange aye on the cover 120. At the same time,
the sides of the cover 120 move downwardly upon the sides of the end cap 118 until
the inwardly extending flange 138 of the cover 120 engages beneath the outwardly
projecting Lange 136 on the end cap 118. The two components 118 and 120 of the
end closure 16 are retained in assembled relationship after assembly, while
permitting desired rotation between the cover 120 and the end cap 118, which, as
shown, in Figure 1, may be an integral part of the container 12.
Figure 10 illustrates an enlarged detail view of the connection of the
rotatable cover to the end cap 118 and particularly, the configuration of the recess
144 with its flange 146 adapted to engage the flange aye on the projection 142
depending from the top of the cover 120.
Means are provided to prevent retrograde motion of the rotatable cover with
respect to the end cap once severing of the wall section connecting the raised
portion to the end cap has begun. Unauthorized tampering with the seal provided
by the raised portion may be detected by the store owner or user. The retrograde
preventing means comprise interengaginD teeth on the end cap and cover
respectively. In Figure 6, there is shown in dotted line a tooth 155 which depends
from the bottom of the rotatable cover 120. The center of the tooth 155 is slightly
cored so as to prevent a sink or depression on the top of the cover 120 during
molding. The end cap 118 is provided with a recess 153 generally complementary
to the depth and sides of the tooth 155 for receiving said tooth therein. As shown
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in Figure 11, the recess 153 is annular. The tooth 157 it inclined upwardly from the
bottom of recess 153 and has a flat face aye which is adapted to engage with the
oppositely facing tooth 155 depending from cover 120. Tooth 155 includes a flat
face aye which is adapted to cooperate with flat face aye to prevent retrograde
motion of the cover 120 relative to the end cap 118 once severing of wall section
140 begins. The teeth 155, 157 are arranged upon the cover and end cap
respectively for positioning as shown in Figure 12 just as the knife means 126
engages wall section 140. The inclined surface of tooth 155 may ride up the
inclined surface on tooth 157. Just as the knife edge 126 engages the wall section
140, tooth 155 will ride over the edge of tooth 155 and be pulled downwardly
toward the end cap by the inherent resiliency ox the plastic forming the cover 120.
The faces aye and aye will abut. Reverse rotation of the cover 120 relative to
the end cap 18 is precluded. Continued rotations of the knife edge 126 to sever the
wall 140 will be unimpeded
It will be understood that in use, the knife means 126 engages the thinned
wall 140 in a small area of the wall and upon continued rotation of cover 120
relative to the end Cup 118, there will be continued cutting of the wall 140. The
cut raised portion 122 moves upwardly onto the cover 120 and when cutting of the
thinned wall 140 is completed, the raised portion 122 is entirely removed from the
container. This has the advantage that there will be no foreign object entering the
container, which object could subsequently impede pouring of the contents. The
possibility of the user breaking a fingernail in trying to gain access to the container
by pressing through or pressing downwardly on the tab portion of -the end cap is
eliminated. The seal provided by the manufacturer for the contents of the
container is maintained until such time as the user desires to gain entry to the
interior of the container by initial rotation of cover 120 relative to end cap 118,
which severs and removes the raised portion 122 from the end cap 118 to provide a
pour opening 128 in the end cap 118. The opening 124 in the cover 120 can be
moved out of registry with opening 128 and holes 123, 125 to seal the contents and
prevent inadvertent discharge if the container falls or is turned upside down.
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Reference may be made to Fig. 13 of my co-pending application Serial No. 683,068
for a pictorial of the cutting action described.
In Fig. 13 there is plan view of an end closure 116 incorporating the tamper
evident member 166 of the present invention. The tamper evident member or
element :l66 is disposed in opening 124 in cover 120 and is retained in place by
frflngible sections 168. Three frangible sections 168 are shown, but it is understood
a different member may be employed. The frangible sections 168 may be
triangular in plan, of reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of cover 120,
and connected to the cover 12û only at the apexes of the triangular sections. At
assembly, the cover 120 is secured to end cap 118 such that a wall 170 of the raised
portion 122 is closely spaced from wall 167 of the tamper evident element 166.
Wall 129 on cover 120 is relatively closely spaced from wall 132 of the raised
portion 122. If the cover 122 is inadvertently rotated in a direction opposite prom
the awry in Fig. 13, wall 129 on the cover 120 will abut wall 131 of the raised
portion 122. Rotation of the cover 122 will be stopped. No cutting occurs, since
the facing walls 129, 131 ore substantially parallel to one another, and there is no
cutting edge on either wall. Upon initial movement of the cover 120 relative to
the end cap 118 in tile direction shown by the arrow in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the wall
170 will engage the tamper evident element 166 before or just as the cutting edge
or knife edge 126 engages the wall 170 of raised portion 122. A force is exerted
against the tamper evident member 166S whereby the frangible sections 168 will be
ruptured and the tamper evident member 166 will be dislodged or released and
popped out from the end closure. With the tell tale or tamper evident element lB5
dislodged or removed, it will be apparent that the cover 120 was rotated with
respect to the end cap 118 and the sealed integrity of the raised portion was
interrupted or breached.
Fig. 16 is a detail cross-sectional view of the end closure evidencing the
reduced frangible sections 1689 which connect the tamper evident element 166 to
the cover 120. The tamper evident element 166 is within the opening 124 in the
cover 120 as viewed in plan (Fig. 13) and the thickness of the tamper evident
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elernen~ 166 is substantially the same as the thickness of the cover 120 as viewed
in section (lug. 16).
There has been provided by the present invention an improved end closure for
a container. The parts are molded Eros plastic and are easily assembled for use.
Prefer ably, the cover (and knife means) are molded from a harder plastic than the
end cap to facilitate severing of the raised portion from the end cap. The
configuration OX the knife means of Figure 6 makes it easier to sever the raised
portion as compared to the knife means of Figure I. The end cap it closed and thus
provides for hermetic sealing of the container after packaging. Upon initial use,
the raised portion of the end cap is severed and forced from the pour opening to
assure that there will be no subsequent interference with pouring of the contents
from the pour opening in the end cap as results when the tab for the pour opening is
pushed into the container. The rotatable cover fits snugly in sliding engagement
with the end cap as a result of the center connection and the side correction of the
two elements. This assures that after the container is opened and the cover
opening is positioned out of registry with the pour opening in the end cap, the
contents of the container will be sealed. A tamper evident element is secured to
the cover and positioned so as to be dislodged or removed from the cover upon
initial movement of the cover relative to the end cap in a direction to sever the
raised portions of the end cap. Thus, the dislodging or removal of the tamper
evident element will warn the user that there was movement of the cover relative
to the end cap that damaged or severed at least a part of the raised portion,
breaking the seal integrity thereof.
While we have shown a presently preferred embodiment of the present
invention, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied
within the scope of the attached claims.
